London - With London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2018 full under swing in
London, the British Fashion Council (BFC) sets its sights on strengthening
its reach overseas as it enters into a new strategic partnership with the
Arab Fashion Council.

The new partnership, which sees the BFC solidifying its links to the
region, sees the BFC become a strategic development partner for the AFC in
order to help accelerate the fashion industry’s growth while offering a
gateway into the region for British and international brands. The
initiative comes as the Arab Fashion Council launches its debut Arab Fashion Week in Saudi Arabia in order to
strengthen the increasing demand for premium fashion in the region while
offering a platform to support local designers.

The British Fashion Council teams up with the Arab Fashion Council to
strengthen its ties to the global fashion market

"We look forward to working with AFC as they develop their fashion
infrastructure and community,” said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the
British Fashion Council in a statement. “We also look forward to developing
opportunities for brands and businesses to expand into the Arabic countries
through this new relationship with the AFC, who are experts in their
market."

The partnership aims to create a foundation to establish a sustainable
fashion infrastructure in the Arab region, positioning the region as a key
strategic hub for design, manufacturing, retail, commerce and education in
order to cement the fashion’s industry role as a key pillar for creative
economies. “This important partnership, will support the Arab Fashion
Council in achieving its ambition to unite a sustainable fashion system for
the Arab World,” added Jacob Abrian, founder and chief executive of the
Arab Fashion Council.

“With the counsel and expertise of the British Fashion Council, the AFC
will nurture and promote the talent resource from the region and
strategically reinforce the Arab World as an important economic hub for the
international fashion industry." President of the Arab Fashion Council
Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud added the initiative reflects the
region’s global interest to “transform the fashion and retail sector in
Saudi Arabia into both a regional and global destination.”

“This can only happen by stimulating local and regional industry, by
encouraging trade exchange and global business in line with the Vision
2030, as our gateway to a future that reflects the cultural image of Saudi
Arabia and its people,” added Princes Noura Bint Faisal Al Said. The
announcement of the BFC’s new partnership with the AFC follows on from the
launch of the BFC’s partnership with VIP.com in China, as London Fashion Week
continues to strengthen its links to the global fashion industry.